I wrote this article to help you remove Search.softorama.com. This Search.softorama.com removal guide works for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

The Search.softorama.com website is an alternative search provider. It provides basic keyword search and filtered tabs for images, videos and news. This search engine is promoted by an extension called Search By Softorama which is available in the Chrome store. Although Search.softorama.com is associated to a commercially available extension, it is not considered to be a safe search provider. The site is known to be used by browser hijackers which are looking to exploit your browser.

If a hijacker enters your system, it can set this site without the Search by Softorama extension being installed to your browser. The results Search.softorama.com returns include supported websites with unconfirmed reputation. Opening them can get your computer infected with malware. There will also be pop-up ads, featuring different kinds of product deals. They come from undisclosed sources which can also be infected. Another threat around the hijacker is having your personal data collected and sold to third parties. The malevolent program can record all kinds of information on you, such as your history, cookies, IP address, e-mail, geographic location and user credentials. These details can be sold to third parties who have malicious intentions.

If you do not recall downloading and installing the Search By Softorama extension, your machine was targeted by a hijacker. You can check your browser’s extensions list to make sure this was the case. The hijacker behind Search.softorama.com can access your PC through a number of deceptive techniques, known as dark patterns. The preferred method is software bundling. The hijacker can attach itself to another piece of software, usually a freeware or shareware tool. The malevolent program gets downloaded with the application you have willingly decided to use. It is then offered for free during the installation process.

The hijacker will be presented as a useful tool with simple functionality. Never agree to have undesired software installed. Read the terms and conditions to find if there is anything offered and deselect it. A spam e-mail can transfer the hijacker behind Search.softorama.com, disguised as an attached document. The fake message can say that it is a receipt for a delivery or letter, a legal notice or something else you would find important. Check the sender’s name and e-mail address to see if he can be relied on. Corrupted websites and links can transmit a malevolent program just by being visited. This process is called a drive-by installation. Be very careful about your sources to stay safe.

The hijacker starts off by setting Search.softorama.com to be your homepage and default search provider. This allows it to alter your browser’s DNS settings. By doing so, the hijacker can change your search results and insert supported websites in between them. These sites can be corrupted and lead to malware infections. The owners of Search.softorama.com take no responsibility for third party websites you can land on by using it to conduct your searches. The website is operated by a company called SearchAlgo with headquarters in New York, NY. The terms of use (TOS) describe the amount of liability the entity covers which is very limited.

Apart from giving you unreliable search results, the hijacker will try to take you to supported websites through pop-up advertisements. The commercial ads will show you bargain product offers, featuring lowly priced goods and lavish discounts. They will have embedded links in them, leading to unknown sites. Never trust random pop-up advertisements. Another security threat related to the hijacker behind Search.softorama.com is having your personal and financial details recorded and sold to third parties. The furtive program can collect details from your history and gather various kinds of input on you, such as your IP, e-mail and physical address, country of origin, user names and passwords.

You have to locate and uninstall the hijacker behind Search.softorama.com. Then you will be able to revert back to your safe settings. There is a guide below to help you with the process. After you have removed the insidious program, you should scan your PC with antivirus software to check for other potential threats. Hijackers often make registry entries which can open security holes in your system.

Search.softorama.com Removal

Before starting the real removal process, you must reboot in Safe Mode. If you know how to do this, skip the instructions below and proceed to Step 2. If you do not know how to do it, here is how to reboot in Safe mode:

For Windows 98, XP, Millenium and 7:
Reboot your computer. When the first screen of information appears, start repeatedly pressing F8 key. Then choose Safe Mode With Networking from the options.

For Windows 8/8.1
Click the Start button, next click Control Panel —> System and Security —> Administrative Tools —> System Configuration.‌

Check the Safe Boot option and click OK. Click Restart when asked.
For Windows 10
Open the Start menu and click or tap on the Power button.

While keeping the Shift key pressed, click or tap on Restart.

Please, follow the steps precisely to remove Search.softorama.com from the browser:

Remove From Mozilla Firefox:

Open Firefox, click on top-right corner , click Add-ons, hit Extensions next.

Look for suspicious or unknown extensions, remove them all.

Remove From Chrome:

Open Chrome, click chrome menu icon at the top-right corner —>More Tools —> Extensions. There, identify the malware and select chrome-trash-icon(Remove).

Remove From Internet Explorer:
Open IE, then click IE gear icon on the top-right corner —> Manage Add-ons.

Find the malicious add-on. Remove it by pressing Disable.

Right click on the browser’s shortcut, then click Properties. Remove everything after the .exe” in the Target box.

Open Control Panel by holding the Win Key and R together. Write appwiz.cpl in the field, then click OK.

Here, find any program you had no intention to install and uninstall it.

Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.

Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.

Open MS Config by holding the Win Key and R together. Type msconfig and hit Enter.

Go in the Startup tab and Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.

Still can not remove Search.softorama.com from your browser? Please, leave a comment below, describing what steps you performed. I will answer promptly.